Caladium plant named ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’, characterized by its intermediate height; somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; thick and rigid lance-type leaves that are purplish red or white predominantly and variably flushed with purplish red with dark purplish grey-colored venation and dark green-colored margins; petioles that are black or brownish green in color with black-colored stippling, stripes and streaks; and excellent garden performance with tolerance to full sunlight, wind and rain.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2012 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Caladium X hortulanum primarily used as a breeding parent, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate in height and somewhat mounding plant habit;         dense and bushy appearance.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Thick and rigid lance-type leaves that are purplish red or         white predominantly and variably flushed with purplish red with         dark purplish grey-colored venation and dark green-colored         margins.     -   4. Petioles that are black or brownish green in color with         black-colored stippling, stripes and streaks.     -   5. Excellent garden performance with tolerance to full sunlight,         wind and rain.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Florida Sweetheart’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller and more upright than         plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are purplish red or         white predominantly flushed with purplish red with dark purplish         grey-colored venation and dark green-colored margins whereas         leaves of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ have dark pink-colored venation,         rose pink-colored interveinal areas with greenish white-colored         margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differ in         leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are         black or brownish green in color with black-colored stippling,         stripes and streaks in color whereas leaf petioles of ‘Florida         Sweetheart’ are tannish pink in color with darker-colored         stripes.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are thicker and more         undulate than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and the male parent selection         differ in leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are purplish         red or white predominantly flushed with purplish red with dark         purplish grey-colored venation and dark green-colored margins         whereas leaves of the male parent selection are white to         greenish white in color flushed with reddish purple.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Green Pearl’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Green Pearl’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grow faster than plants of ‘Green         Pearl’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Green Pearl’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of the new Caladium are purplish red or white         predominantly flushed with purplish red with dark purplish         grey-colored venation and dark green-colored margins whereas         leaves of ‘Green Pearl’ are predominately white or greenish         white in color with green to dark green-colored venation and         thin green-colored margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Green Pearl’ in leaf petiole         color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are black or brownish         green in color with black-colored stippling, stripes and streaks         in color whereas leaf petioles of ‘Green Pearl’ are green to         tannish green in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Blushing Bride’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,213. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Blushing Bride’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Blushing Bride’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are purplish red or         white predominantly flushed with purplish red with dark purplish         grey-colored venation and dark green-colored margins whereas         leaves of ‘Blushing Bride’ are greyed purple in color with dark         green-colored margins and whitish-colored venation tinged with         greyed purple.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Blushing Bride’ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of the new Caladium are black or         brownish green in color with black-colored stippling, stripes         and streaks in color whereas leaf petioles of ‘Blushing Bride’         are tannish pink to tannish green in color with dark brownish         green-colored stippling, streaks and tessellations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ in a container and grown in a shade house (tuber de-eyed).

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting; the photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of the female parent, ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (left), ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ (center) and the male parent selection (right).

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Blushing Bride’ (left), ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ (center) and ‘Green Pearl’ (right).

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 5) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’.

The photograph on the sixth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’.

The photograph on the seventh sheet (FIG. 7) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ grown in an open production field.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shade house were six weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘GPR SWT STR     013-993’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Florida             Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Caladium X hortulanum primarily used as a breeding parent,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             mostly elliptic in shape. Height: About 2.8 cm. Diameter:             About 5.1 cm to 6.2 cm. Segment height: About 2.3 cm.             Segment diameter: About 1.8 cm. Axillary bud shape: Roughly             triangular. Axillary bud size: About 4 mm by 4 mm. Texture:             Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm,             freshly-harvested: Close to 199B. Periderm, dried: Close to             200A to 200B. Epidermis: Initially, close to 179D becoming             closer to 38D with development. Cortical tissue: Close to             NN155C and 1D. Axillary buds: Close to 38B. Root             description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few             lateral branches; color, close to NN155D. Rooting habit:             Medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height, upright and             somewhat mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance;             vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants             finish in saleable form in about six weeks after planting             tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more             growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright             and leaning and arching outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed.—About 22 cm to 24             cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About 40 cm             to 42 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of floral plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About 54.5             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About 34 cm to 49 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About 66 cm to 73 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About 11 to 14 develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1             tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About 4             cm to 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm to 1.7 cm. Shape: Linear             to narrowly elliptic. Apex: Obtuse to emarginate. Base:             Sheathing the stein. Color: Outer surface: Close to N155B             densely streaked and stippled with close to 200A; color             becoming closer to 200A stained with close to 187A with             development. Inner surface: Close to N155A and N155C; colors             and patterns on outer surface visible on inner surface. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 15 cm to 16.5             cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants.—About 8.5 cm to 11             cm; when flattened, about 10 cm to 12 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate, cordate; basal leaf lobes may be             imbricate.         -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             relatively thick; puckering between veins; slightly             carinate; slightly glaucous; dull sheen.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             glaucous; dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Background color: Close to 184C or             close to NN155B predominantly and variably flushed with             close to 184C and 187C; random flecks, close to 192C.             Margins: Close to 147A or close to 147A flushed and flecked             with close to N155C; at the leaf edge, close to 187A. Basal             notch: Close to N186D. Midvein and primary venation: Close             to N186A; areas surrounding venation, close to 146A or close             to 146A tinged with close to 184C. Secondary venation: Close             to 147B tinged with close to N186C or close to N186B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Background color: Close to             N155C variably flushed with close to 183D. Margins: Close to             191B, 191C, and N155C tinged with close to 183D; at the leaf             edge, close to 187A. Leaf attachment point: Close to 187A to             187B. Midvein and primary venation: Close to 177D and 182D             variably streaked and blotched with close to 200A, 200B and             200C. Secondary venation: Close to 139A flushed with close             to 200A, 200B and 200C.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning             and arching outwardly with development; flexible. Length,             shade house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed: About 16.5             cm to 21.5 cm. Length, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed: About 16 cm to 36 cm. Diameter,             distally, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed:             About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter, distally, shade house-grown             potted plants, tubers not de-eyed: About 5.5 mm to 6 mm.             Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Diameter, proximally,             shade house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed: About 1             cm to 1.2 cm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy             to shiny. Color, shade house-grown potted plants: When             developing and fully developed: Close to 202A and N200A             variably streaked with close to N170D or close to N170D and             159C tinged with close to 148D and stippled, streaked and             striped with close to 200C tinged with close to 148D; just             below the leaf junction, close to 202A streaked with close             to 181C. Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed: About 4.5 cm to 7.4 cm. Wing length, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed: About 9 cm to             12.5 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed: About 7 mm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown             potted plants, tubers not de-eyed: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; dull sheen. Wing color, shade house-grown potted             plants: Outer surface: Close to 202A tinged with close to             N189A with stippling and marbling, close to N155B; distally,             occasionally marbled with close to 36D. Inner surface: Close             to N155B; distally, marbled with close to N200A and 202A;             colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the             inner surface. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on eight week-old     shade house-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; jasmine-like with camphor note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about eight weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 19 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 13.5 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 5.5 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 4.8 cm.             Depth, distal open portion: About 2.7 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 2 cm. Width, proximal closed portion:             About 3.5 cm. Shape, open portion: Narrowly elliptic to             slightly obovate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Acute.             Margin: Entire; open portion, reflexed. Texture and luster,             front surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen. Texture and             luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous; distally, dull sheen             and proximally, glaucous. Color, front surface: Distal open             portion: Close to 155C; with development, color becoming             closer to 199B and 200C. Proximal closed portion: Close to             148D and flushed towards the base with close to 187A; color             does not change with development. Color, rear surface:             Distal open portion: Close to 145D; towards the center,             close to 145C; towards the margins, close to 157B; color             does not change with development. Proximal closed portion:             Close to 147C and 147D with random areas of close to N200A;             color does not change with development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 12 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 6.2 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 2.8 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 3 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1.3 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 1 cm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute to obtuse.             Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone:             Close to 155D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 155D.             Color, mature, female zone: Close to 159D and 158B. Male             flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 170. Shape: Obovate.             Height: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 4C. Female flowers:             Quantity per spadix: About 350. Shape: Obovate. Height:             About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: Close to             159D. Ovary color: Close to 158B.         -   Scape.—Length: About 35.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; distally, glaucous and             proximally, glossy. Color: Close to 202A and N200A             occasionally streaked with close to N170D; just below             spathe, glaucous and close to 202A and N200A streaked with             close to N155C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above     average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Garden performance & temperature tolerance: Plants of the new     Caladium have been observed to have excellent garden performance     with tolerance to full sunlight, wind and rain and to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C. and are     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones, tubers     can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool dry     environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘GPR SWT STR 013-993’ as illustrated and described. 